Sponge and cloth cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A relatively thick sponge has a washable microfiber cloth that removably covers at least a portion of the sponge, and is particularly well adapted for automotive use by virtue of a microfiber pile on the cloth. Preferred cloth coverings have microfibers with a length (pile height) of between 0.5 and 0.11 cm, and more preferably between 0.7 and 0.9 cm. The sponge can be any suitable size and shape, but is preferably dog bone shaped, having a length of at least 10 cm, a width of at least 6 cm, and a thickness of at least 2 cm. The cloth is preferably sized and dimensioned to completely enclose the sponge.

BACKGROUND

Sponges and cloths are each well-known tools for cleaning, drying, waxing, polishing and so forth, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Sponges can quickly absorb a significant quantity of liquid, and can dispense that liquid over a wide surface. Thus, in washing a car it is commonplace to use a sponge to bring soap and water from a bucket to the top or sides of a automobile. A problem, however, is that sponges tend to readily damaged when used on a surface having edges and corners, such as that often found on decorative wheels. In those instances a cloth is a better choice, because the cloth is physically stronger. Unfortunately, cloths do not generally hold liquids as readily as a sponge, and can be too abrasive when used on a glossy surface such as that of a highly finished car.

There are combinations of sponges and cloths in the prior art. For example, a combination of absorbent sponge and machine washable cloth cover is known for use in a heating pad for medical use. That combination, however, would not be useful for automotive care because the sponge portion is intended to be quite thin for comfort reasons, and is too thin to hold sufficient liquid. In addition, the contemplated terry cloth or other towel-like cover can well be destructive to automotive finishes.

Similarly, it is known to provide a loofah or other bath sponge with a terry cloth cover. Here the sponge can be considerably thicker, but the cover is still inappropriate for automotive and many other uses. Indeed, the cloth portion is intended to be somewhat abrasive to assist in cleaning the skin. A trail sponge, sometimes carries by horseback riders typically uses a terry cloth cover enclosing a natural sea sponge http://my.voyager.net/˜desotosaddle/s01.htm. The same is true for sponge mops with cloth covers. The cloth is relatively rough, since it is intended to be used on hard wood, ceramic, or other floor coverings that are quite resistant to scratching.

Still other cloth-covered sponges are known that are not intended to receive moisture at all, let alone be immersed in water or other liquid. For example, books and albums sometimes have cover comprising a cloth that encloses a sponge liner. Similarly, headphones sometimes have a sponge core with a cloth cover. None of those products would be at all useful for cleaning and polishing high glass surfaces such as automotive finishes.

Thus, there is still a need for a sponge with a cloth cover that is particularly well adapted for automotive use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a relatively thick sponge has a washable microfiber cloth that removably covers at least a portion of the sponge.

The sponge/cloth combination is preferably manufactured and sold as a combination product, with instructions for use, and marketing materials directing the user to automotive use.

The sponge can have any suitable size or shape, and is especially contemplated to have a dog bone or other shape that has bulbous ends and a narrowed mid section. Preferred sponges have a length of at least 10 cm, a width of at least 6 cm, and a thickness of at least 2 cm.

Preferred cloth coverings have microfibers with a length (pile height) of between 0.5 and 0.11 cm, and more preferably between 0.7 and 0.9 cm. Especially preferred microfibers have a denier value of between 0.3 and 0.5. All ranges described herein are deemed to be inclusive of their endpoints. The cloth can be advantageously made on a circular knitting machine with no backcoating, and can optionally include a shining agent, cleaner, surfactant, or other surface care agent. Although the cloth can cover only a portion of the sponge, it is preferred that the cloth be sized and dimensioned to completely enclose the sponge.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a sponge and a removable cloth covering that encloses the sponge.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a sponge and a non-removable cloth covering that encloses the sponge.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of packaging for the sponge/cloth combination of FIG. 1, showing suggested automotive use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 an article of manufacture 10 includes a sponge 12 and a cloth 14.

The sponge 12 can comprise any suitable material, including natural sponges, but more preferably comprises a closed cell Ensolite™ urethane, rubber, latex, or other synthetic material for improved durability and liquid absorption.

Sponge 12 can also have any suitable size and shape. For automotive use larger sponges are preferred, especially those large enough that they extend out both sides of a person's palm when the sponge is grasped arounds its mid-section. Such sponges are therefore at least 10 cm long, more preferably at least 15 cm long, and most preferably at least 18 cm long. The thickness should be at least 2 cm, but is advantageously much thicker, such as at least 4 cm, 6 cm, or even 8 cm. Preferred width is at least 6 cm, and more preferably at least 8 cm or 10 cm.

In FIG. 1 the sponge 12 is dog bone shaped, with a narrowed mid section and bulbous ends. Other shapes are contemplated that have only a single bulbous end, or have rectangular, oblong, circular, or other horizontal cross-sectional shapes, as long as the size and shape are appropriate for a user to employ in conveniently washing a surface of an automobile.

Preferred cloth coverings have microfibers that are “finish friendly”, at least with respect to automotive finishes. Currently preferred cloths have microfibers with a length (pile height) of between 0.5 and 0.11 cm, and more preferably between 0.7 and 0.9 cm. Denier value is defined as the mass in grams per 9000 meters of yarn. Especially preferred microfibers have a denier value of between 0.3 and 0.5. The most preferred coverings have a pile height of 0.8 cm, and comprises a combination of (a) 50% 0.5 denier polyester and (b) 50% 0.3 denier polyester microfibers. On the other hand, suitable cloths could have microfibers manufactured from other materials, such as wool, cotton, and so forth—as long as the material is durable and sufficiently soft.

The cloth cover can be made in any suitable manner. The presently preferred methods use a circular knitting machine, and the cloth has no backcoating. In contrast, most pile microfibers are manufactured on a tricot knitting machine, which is basically a loom that knits horizontally and vertically. That method requires a sewn-edge to keep the product “together”. Meguiar's proprietary KPW-210 material is manufactured on a circular knitting machine, which uses a multi-dimensional knitting process. This process is the most effective way to make sure the edges do not fray or unravel during the production of the cover, and during use.

Although not strictly necessary, it is considered highly desirable that the cloth cover substantially conforms to the overall shape of the sponge. Thus, the bone-shaped sponge 12 of FIG. 1 has a cover 14 with a bone-shaped cavity 16. A rhombohedral sponge should have a cover with a correspondingly rhombohedron shaped cavity. In cases of a closed-cavity cover, the cavity can be closed in any suitable manner. Preferred embodiments use a Velcro™ or other hook and loop fastener. It is also possible that the shape of the cover will automatically tend to close around the sponge, even without a fastener. Zippers are contemplated but not preferred, because of the potential for scratching the surface being cleaned.

The cloth cover can optionally include a shining agent, cleaner, surfactant, or other surface care agent. Although the cloth can cover only a portion of the sponge, it is preferred that the cloth be sized and dimensioned to completely enclose the sponge.

In use, a consumer would open the cavity 16, insert the sponge 12, and then close the cavity 16. The sponge/cover combination 10 would then be dipped into a bucket or other container of water, to which has been added an automotive cleaning agent. The sponge/cover combination 10 would then be rubbed on a surface of an automobile until the washing or other step was completed, or the cover 14 became too dirty. In either case the cover 14 could be removed and washed out for future use.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative combination 20 of sponge 22 (shown in outline) and cover 24, in which the sponge 22 is not readily removable from the cover 24. There is, for example, no slot or other opening for user removal of the sponge 22.

In FIG. 3 a sample packaging 30 for the sponge/cover combination 10 of FIG. 1 has a drawing, picture or other image 32 that depicts the use of the sponge/cover combination 10 in washing an automobile. This or other marketing material is designed to achieve usual marketing goals of increased sales. Since a significant feature of especially preferred cloths is the particular microfibers used, it is also advantageous to specifically market the microfibers in the cloth as being advantageous for automotive finishes. See text, 34.

Thus, specific embodiments and applications of sponges with cloth covers have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. 

1. A product of manufacture comprising a hand held water immersible absorbent sponge having a length of at least 10 cm, a width of at least 6 cm and a thickness of at least 2 cm, and a washable microfiber cloth that removably covers at least a portion of the sponge, and wherein the sponge and the cover both have an overall dog bone shape.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. The product of claim 1 wherein the cloth substantially encloses the sponge.
 6. The product of claim 1 wherein the microfibers have a pile height of between 0.5 and 0.1 cm.
 7. The product of claim 1 wherein the microfibers have a pile height of between 0.7 and 0.9 cm.
 8. The product of claim 1 wherein the microfibers comprise a polyester.
 9. The product of claim 1 wherein the cloth is manufactured using a circular knitting machine.
 10. The product of claim 1 wherein the cloth is manufactured with no backcoating.
 11. The product of claim 1 wherein the cloth has a denier value of at between 0.2 and 0.6.
 12. The product of claim 1 wherein the microfibers comprise a combination of fibers between 0.25 and 0.35 denier, and fibers between 0.45 and 0.55 denier.
 13. The product of claim 1 wherein the microfibers comprise a combination of 0.3 and 0.5 denier fibers.
 14. The product of claim 1 wherein the cloth contains a surface agent selected from the group consisting of a shining agent, a cleaner, and a surfactant.
 15. A method of marketing a sponge, comprising marketing a combination of the sponge with the cloth cover of claim 1 as being useful for automotive use.
 16. The method of claim 17, further comprising marketing the microfibers in the cloth as being advantageous for automotive finishes. 